Photo of an asian wood u-shaped staircase in Boston with wood railing and wood risers.

Gregory Dean Photography
Large contemporary wood straight staircase in Other with wood railing and wood risers.

This is an example of a large traditional wood spiral staircase in Los Angeles with painted wood risers and mixed railing.

stairs, iron balusters, wrought iron, staircase
Photo of a mid-sized traditional wood l-shaped staircase in Richmond with painted wood risers and mixed railing.

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Large contemporary wood straight staircase in Boston with glass risers and glass railing.

Photographer | Daniel Nadelbach Photography
Design ideas for a large modern wood u-shaped staircase in Albuquerque with wood risers and mixed railing.

Staircase to second floor
Photo of a mid-sized country wood straight staircase with metal risers, metal railing and wood walls.

Design ideas for a transitional wood u-shaped staircase in Minneapolis with wood risers and wood railing.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional wood l-shaped staircase in Sydney with wood risers and wood railing.

From the outside this one of a kind modern farmhouse home is set off by the contrasting materials of the Shou Sugi Ban Siding, exposed douglas fir accents and steel metal roof while the inside boasts a clean lined modern aesthetic equipped with a wood fired pizza oven. Through the design and planning phases of this home we developed a simple form that could be both beautiful and every efficient. This home is ready to be net zero with the future addition of renewable resource strategies (ie. solar panels).

The Balmoral House is located within the lower north-shore suburb of Balmoral. The site presents many difficulties being wedged shaped, on the low side of the street, hemmed in by two substantial existing houses and with just half the land area of its neighbours. Where previously the site would have enjoyed the benefits of a sunny rear yard beyond the rear building alignment, this is no longer the case with the yard having been sold-off to the neighbours. Our design process has been about finding amenity where on first appearance there appears to be little. The design stems from the first key observation, that the view to Middle Harbour is better from the lower ground level due to the height of the canopy of a nearby angophora that impedes views from the first floor level. Placing the living areas on the lower ground level allowed us to exploit setback controls to build closer to the rear boundary where oblique views to the key local features of Balmoral Beach and Rocky Point Island are best. This strategy also provided the opportunity to extend these spaces into gardens and terraces to the limits of the site, maximising the sense of space of the 'living domain'. Every part of the site is utilised to create an array of connected interior and exterior spaces The planning then became about ordering these living volumes and garden spaces to maximise access to view and sunlight and to structure these to accommodate an array of social situations for our Client’s young family. At first floor level, the garage and bedrooms are composed in a linear block perpendicular to the street along the south-western to enable glimpses of district views from the street as a gesture to the public realm. Critical to the success of the house is the journey from the street down to the living areas and vice versa. A series of stairways break up the journey while the main glazed central stair is the centrepiece to the house as a light-filled piece of sculpture that hangs above a reflecting pond with pool beyond. The architecture works as a series of stacked interconnected volumes that carefully manoeuvre down the site, wrapping around to establish a secluded light-filled courtyard and terrace area on the north-eastern side. The expression is 'minimalist modern' to avoid visually complicating an already dense set of circumstances. Warm natural materials including off-form concrete, neutral bricks and blackbutt timber imbue the house with a calm quality whilst floor to ceiling glazing and large pivot and stacking doors create light-filled interiors, bringing the garden inside. In the end the design reverses the obvious strategy of an elevated living space with balcony facing the view. Rather, the outcome is a grounded compact family home sculpted around daylight, views to Balmoral and intertwined living and garden spaces that satisfy the social needs of a growing young family. Photo Credit: Clinton Weaver

Inspiration for a large country wood u-shaped staircase in Charleston with wood risers and wood railing.

Sonia Mangiapane
Mid-sized contemporary wood straight staircase in Melbourne with open risers and mixed railing.

Ben Gebo
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary wood straight staircase in Boston with painted wood risers and wood railing.

18 Ft Maple tree with spiral slab treads. Inspired but what is at hand.
Mid-sized country wood straight staircase in Burlington with open risers and wood railing.

Mid-sized arts and crafts wood l-shaped staircase in Other with wood risers and wood railing.

The finished product has clean lines, solid newel posts and the curve of the railing matches the curve of the floor. The black patina complements the pen-and-ink architectural artwork on the wall. The overall effect is a modern accent that enhances the living space for this spacious home.

This is an example of a contemporary wood l-shaped staircase in New York with open risers and metal railing.